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To the editor:
With all due respect to Mr. Newbill Miller and other members of the Board of Supervisors, I owe the good people of Rappahannock County a clarification of the objectives, goals, plans and hopes for the newly formed Foothills Travel Association of Virginia.
The invitation to form this group was extended by the State of Virginia Division of Tourism and was open to any and all interested residents of the counties of Culpeper, Madison, Fauquier, Orange and Rappahannock, all members of Planning District 9. Under the guidance of William Strider, Acting Director of the Planning District, many men and women from these counties banded together, voluntarily, and with the legal assistance of Ed Gentry, president of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, they elected officers and are planning a campaign to promote tourism within the area.
It is a fact that tourism is the second largest industry in the State of Virginia, and the first income producing industry in Rappahannock County. Without tourism, where would the finest restaurant in Virginia be? W'ho would buy our antiques, who would shop our fruit and vegetable stands on Route 211, who would stop to buy the Lions Club apple butter? Who would fill the streets of Little Washington on the Fourth of July — help raise funds for the Volunteer Fire Depaitment, support the 4-H booths, bring crafters into our county to sell their wares? What would Rush River and Heritage House do if there were no visitors to buy their merchandise?
Perhaps Faith Mountain and Country Manor might exist on their catalogue sales, but think of all the people who would be unemployed. If the tourists did not pass our way, they would find another place to leave their dollars, and then visualize the empty buildings. Empty buildings mean no collectible taxes.
Our association is not looking to anything more than to attract visitors to our area for a very short period of time. The more success our business community experiences, the more tax dollars are created and perhaps our tax rates can remain what they are and not go higher.
The association is trying very hard to promote the counties of the Planning District as “SPLENDOR FOR ALL SEASONS” — a place to visit 12 month’s of a year; an area where people are employed 12 months a year; a place where income can be counted on 12 months a year.
I believe, as does Mr. Miller, in the separation of government and business, but sometimes, in the course of events, government must lend a helping hand. In order for the Association to achieve its goal for the Planning District, it must produce, for the State Division of Tourism, a brochure which will entice and attract the visitors coming into the State of Virginia. We have had members volunteer many, many hours working on a brochure worthy of our area. We have had professional writers and graphic artists contribute their time and talents for this endeavor.
This brochure will be ready for distribution in the 11 state visitor centers by the first of October, the busiest time of the year here in Rap
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